LEGENDARY guitarist Wilko Johnson, who has terminal cancer, has been booked to headline a North-East festival.

The 66-year-old, who has refused treatment for pancreatic cancer, will round off the fourth Durham Blues Festival at the city’s Gala Theatre on Saturday, June 21.

Johnson has vowed to play for as long as he is able and is due ro perform at several festivals, including Glastonbury.

His latest album, Going Back Home, recorded with The Who’s singer Roger Daltrey, is ion the charts and he has played mute executioner Ilyn Payne in the TV show Game of Thrones, Johnson came to fame in the 1970s with rhythm and blues band Dr Feelgood who are regarded as one f the biggest influences of the Punk movement.

Festival organiser Stephen Stanley, of Solid Entertainments, said Johnson, who appeared at the first Durham event in 2011, is replacing Walter Trout who is awaiting a liver transplant in America.

“The great news for Wilko is that he is still feeling good. He wants to keep playing so he had booked festival appearances up to July.

“When he found out Walter Trout was ill he said he was enjoying playing and doing festivals and that as long as he was able to play he would come and do it.”

The festival will feature 12 acts on electric and acoustic stages.

For full details visit www.solidentertainments.com